Combination table and cabinet



Feb. 25, 1941. pps

COMBINATION TABLE AND CABINET Filed May 19, 1938 INVENTOR [00/5 J 52 s.

Patented Feb. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,233,003 coMBINArIoN TABLE AND CABINET Louis J. Epps, Detroit, Mich. Application May 19, 1939, Serial No. 274,595

Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful im provement in a combination cabinet and table. The invention may be used as a kitchen cabinet, filing cabinet, or the like. It may also be used in combination with a gas or electric stove of the cabinet type, a refrigerator, etc. In the specification and claims, the term cabinet is designed to indicate such a construction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a table adapted for being associated with a cabinet in such a manner that the table may be secured to the cabinetto form with its upper. surface, an extension of the upper surface of the cabinet. When used with a filing cabinet, the mounting of the table in operative position and relation to the cabinet will serve to provide a desk top closely associated with a filing cabinet. When used with a gas or electric stove, a kitchen cabinet, or the like, the upper surface of the table would form with the upper surface of the cabinet with which used, an extension thereof, thus providing the desired supporting surface, and in all instances providing a structure which would occupy a minimum of space when not in its normal use, and which would provide a compact structure when in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this class which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, durable, compact, highly efficient in use, and easily and quickly moved'to operative and inoperative position. 1

Another object of the invention is the provision of securing means on the supporting cabinet engageable with the table in such a manner that the table will be rigidly attached to the supporting cabinet either when in operative or inoperative position. Other objects will appear hereinafter. Incorporated in the specification, is the hereunto attached drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the table used in the invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated the. invention used with a cabinet having a plurality of drawers each slideably mounted therein. In these types of cabinets, a flange I0 is formed on the front wall so that there is a space between the inner face of the side wall I l of the cabinet and the sides of the drawers 9. In Fig. 1, I have illustrated a pair of tables associated with the cabinet, and as the description proceeds, it will appear obvious that the table may be located at both sides of the supporting cabinet or only at one side depending upon the space present for use and the use to which the invention .is to be put. These tables which embody a top l2 are of the foldable type and, asill ust'rated, four legs I3 are swingably mounted on the side flange I4 of the top I2 and held in position when extended outwardly by means of the toggle brace I5. This is a structure which is well-known and of itself forms no part of the present invention. Extended inwardly from the side flange l6, which depends from the top I2 at one side thereof, is a flange ll having the upwardly turned inner edge l8, the part l8 extending at right angles to the part I1 and in parallel spaced relation to the flange l6. Formed in the angularly turned portion is a slot I9, and a slot is formed in the inwardly turned portion l'l.

Mounted on the inner face of the wall I I of the cabinet is a housing 2| which is supported by a suitable angle iron 22 spot welded or otherwise suitably secured to the wall I I. Fixedly mounted on the angle iron 22 and enclosed in the housing 2| is a guide plate 23 having its edges 24 and 25 turned inwardly to provide guide channels 26 and 21 respectively, in which is slideably mounted an attachment plate 28 having the upwardly turned rear end 29 and the upwardly turned forward end 30 which serves to provide a hook. Inwardly directed tongues 3| and 32 are formed on the parts 24 and 25 so that when the plate 28 is slid outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, these tongues will engage the upwardly turned rear end 29 and limit the slideable movement of the plate 28 outwardly. When slid inwardly its full distance, the upwardly turned rear end28 will engage the rear wall of the housing 2|, and the hook forming portion 30 will lie in alignment with the wall II and will serve as a closure for the opening 33 formed therein.

When the plate 28 is slid inwardly, the appearance of the side wall of the supporting cabinet is in no manner distorted or marred so that if it is desired to dispense with the table entirely, the

supporting cabinet still will serve its usual pur- 28 is slid outwardly until the rear end 29 en-- gages the tongues 3| and 32 so that the upwardly turned portion 30 of the plate 28 presents a supporting hook. The table may then be slid downwardly with the flange l6 inclose engagement with the wall H and the hook forming portion 30 will pass through the slot 20, thus securing the table attached to the supporting cabinet. The legs will, of course, be swung outwardly to supporting position and the location of the slideable plate 28 is such that when the table is hooked thereon, the legs l3 of the table will rest upon the supporting body on which the cabinet is positioned.

When it is desired to support the table in inoperative position on the supporting cabinet, the legs would be swung inwardly to folded position as shown in Fig. 5 and the table positioned with the outer face of the flange position I'I engaging the outer face of the wall I I. When moved downwardly from this position, the hook-forming portion 30'will pass through the slot l9 and secure the table snugly against the side wall of the supporting cabinet. It is, of course, obvious that a number of these plates 28 might be mounted in spaced relation on a supporting cabinet so that a number of securing means would be in engagement with the table at the same time. When the table is detached from the cabinet, it

can, of course, be used for the ordinary purposes to which a conventional table is ordinarily put.

It is recognized that various modifications and changes might be made in a structure of this type without departing from the spirit of the invention and it is the intention to include such modifications in the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. A device of the class described comprising: a. supporting cabinet; a side wall on said cabinet; a table having a top provided with a slot on its under surface; and an attachable member mounted on said cabinet and projectible outwardly of the side wall thereof, and engageable in said slot for securing said table on said side wall in snug engagement therewith.

2. A device of the class described comprising: a supporting cabinet having a top; a side wall on said cabinet; a table having a top, said top having an under surface downwardly offset from the top surface and extended inwardly from the side face of the top and provided with a slot; an attachment member slideaibly mounted on said cabinet and slideable inwardly thereof for concealment and adapted for being pro- Jected outwardly of the side wall thereof for engagement in such slot and securing the side face of said table in engagement with the outer face of said wall and retaining the upper surface of said table top in alignment with the upper surface of said cabinet top.

3. A-device of the class described comprising: a supporting cabinet having a top; a side wall on said cabinet; a separate table having a top; a portion on saidtop spaced beneath the same and extended inwardly from the side face of said top and provided with a slot positioned inwardly of the side face; an nwardly directed portion on said under surface provided with a slot spaced from the side face of said table a distance equal to thewpacing of said Imder surface from the top of said table; and an attachment member mounted on said cabinet and projectible outwardly from said wall and engageable in either of said slots for securing said table to said cabinet, said securing member, upon engagement in the slot in said under surface, retaining the side face of said table in engagement with said side wall and the upper surface of said table top in alignment with the upper surface of said cabinet top and, upon engagement in the slot in said inwardly directed portion, for retaining the face of said under surface in engagement with said side wall and the outer surface of the outer side face in alignment with the upper surface of said cabinet top.

4. In a device of the class described comprising: a supporting cabinet; a. side wall on said cabinet; a housing mounted on said side wall and positioned inwardly of said cabinet; a guide plate mounted in said housing; and an attachment plate slideably mounted on said guide plate; an angularly turned end on said attachment plate projectible outwardly from the wall of said cabinet through a slot formed therein and adapted upon inward sliding of said plate for closing said slot. a

5. In a device of the class described comprising: a supporting cabinet; a side wall on said cabinet; a housing mounted on said side wall and positioned inwardly of said cabinet; a guide plate mounted in said housing; and an attachment plate slideably mounted on said guide plate; an angularly turned end on said attachment plate projectible outwardly from the wall of said cabinet through a slot formed therein and adapted upon inward sliding of said plate for closing said slot; and means for limiting the outward sliding of said attachment plate.

' LOUIS J. EPPS. 

